Device for rapidly making cross sections of fibers



Dec. 19, 1933. J. I. HARDY 1,940,590

DEVICE FOR RAPIDLY MAKING CROSS SECTIONS OF FIBERS Filed Dec. 14, 1952 INVENT UR- J UHN LHARI] Y AT T DRNEYS l atented Dem-1 9, 1933 DEVICE FOR RAPIDLY- MAKING oaos's SECTIONS OF- FIBERS John '1. Hardy, -Washington, D. 0., dedicated to the free use of the Public ApplicationDece nber 14; 1932 Serial No. 647,190

' 2 Claims. (01. 88- 40) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

This application is made under the act approved March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April.

30, 1928; and the invention herein described, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or 8 for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

I hereby dedicate the invention herein described t0 the free use of the public, in the territory of the United States, to take effect upon the granting of a patent to me. v

This invention relates to a device having a fiber hole and slot for use in rapidly making cross sections of wool and other fibers.

The rapid methods ordinarily used for making cross sections of fibers involve the use of a perforated metal disc .or piece of cork.

In the case. of the disc the fibers are threaded through a holein the disc by a silk thread. I When c a piece of cork is used the fibers are also threaded through a small perforation by the use of a needle. The cross section of .fibers is obtained by cutting the fibers close to the surfacesof the disc or cork by means of a sharp instrument. The disadvantages of these methods and devices are due to time consumed in passing the fibers through the disc or cork and to the fact that the individual fibers are doubled in the process. It is also found in drawing the fibers through a disc or piece of cork the tension exerted often breaks or distorts the shape of the fibers.

The objects of my present device are to more rapidly obtain good cross sections of fibers and at the same time eliminate the disadvantages of existing rapid methods as disclosed above.

trated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a top plan view of the entire device; Figure 2 is a plan view of the slide holder disc detached from its companion disc; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the fiber holder disc showing the fiber hole and slot; Figure 4 is a side View of the entire device; Figure 5 is a side view of the slide holder disc and Figure 6 is a detailed view of the metal slide.

The device involves use of a metal disc 1 called the fiber holder disc in approximately the center of which is a fiber hole 2 of a predetermined size. There is a fiber slot 3 in disc 1 extending from the and disc 4 called the slide holder disc which may or may not be the same size as the first mentioned disc also contains a slot 5 in which is rigidly affixed a fiat surfacedmetal slide 6 withright 55 angled flanges 7 7, said slide extending sufficiently gcompressed fibers. This'lockingdevice may con- I attain these objects by use of the device illusa amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G; 757) beyond the slide holder disc to completelyfill the above-mentioned slot 3 in disc 1.

That portion of the circumference of the slide holder disc which comes into contact with the circumference of the fiber holder disc adjacent w; slot 3 should be formed to the curvature of the circumference of the fiber holder disc. Asan alternative the circumferences of the discs at the point of contact may be cut to form a straight line of contact between the edges of the discs. 1.

The metal slide consists of a thin metal plate so formed as to have two flanges 7 7 extending right angled to the central portion 10 of the plate in such a manner that when that portion of the plate which projects from disc 4 is inserted in 705'; slot 3 of disc 1 the aforementioned flanges will be positioned on opposite sides of disc 1 and the metal slide or plate will completely fill slot 3 thereby accurately completing the circumference of fiber ho1e'2 in disc 1. The flanges 7 '7 75, of the slide 6,. as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6 are discontinued a shortv distance from the free end of slide 6. This results in the edges of the central portion 10 of the slide 6, adjacent to fiber hole 2 being flush with the fiat surfaces of am, the disc or plate 1, so that the fibers may be conveniently cut off flush with the sides of the fiber holder disc without dulling contact 'between the sharpened edge of the cutting tool and the slide. 3

If desired-a locking device 8 maybe utilized to hold the two discs together in order to prevent their separation by the pressure exerted by the sist, as illustrated, oftwothin plates attached rigidly toxone of the discs in such a manner that when the device is in an assembled position the plates will extend overthe surface of the other disc. The free ends of the two plates are equipped with pins or knobs on the under surface thereof. This disc over which. the plates extend contains perforations or indentations 9 9 so positioned that when the above-mentioned extended portion of slide 6 is'placed to its full depth in slot 3 the pins or knobs on the plates will engage with such perforations or indentations. o

To operate the device small groups of clean fibers are inserted into the fiber hole 2 through hole 2 to the circumference of the dlsc. The secthe fiber slot 3 until hole 2 is slightly more than full. Slide 6 is then inserted in slot 3 to its full depth and until the circumference of hole 2 is complete. By means of a safety razor blade the fibers are cut off flush on both sides of the fiber holder disc and are then readyfor examination 11o.

. a 1. A device for use in making cross sections of fibers comprising a metal disc, a fiber hole in said disc, a slot extending from the fiber hole to the edge of said disc, a metal slide so shaped that it may be inserted in said slot to a depth sufficient to close the circumference of the fiber hole and having flanges at right angles to said slide which when adjusted embrace the top and s bottom surfaces of the disc, a plate associated with one end of said slide by which the slide may be conveniently handled and which is formed to align with the circumference of the disc and toserve as a gauge controlling the depth to which the slide may be inserted in said slot.

2. A device for use in making cross sections of fibers comprising a plate, a fiber hole in said plate, a slot extending from the fiber hole to the edge oi-the plate and slide means in the slot to close the circumference of said fiber hole, the edges of said slide means adjacent to the fiber hole being flush with the surfaces of the plate.

' JOHN I. HARDY. 

